Teaching Children About God in Everyday Moments

 “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Deuteronomy 11:18-19 (NIV)

Dear Friends,

We are forgetful people! There are things and memories we think will never disappear. But sometimes it takes only one generation for things we take for granted to become unfamiliar.

A Surprising Question from My Granddaughter

I was reminded of this reality this past weekend as I babysat four of my grandchildren. They spent two days with me while their parents were in the hospital welcoming their baby sister.

We had a wonderful time together doing all the things that children eight and under like to do. As they became familiar with my home, eight-year-old Ruby grabbed a newspaper from the counter. She opened it up and asked me, “Nana, what is this huge piece of paper for?”

I was shocked! How could she not know what a newspaper is?

But on second thought, it made sense. This generation is not growing up with physical newspapers anymore. Most families get their news online or from the TV. Children don’t often experience newsprint on their hands or read articles printed in columns on wide sheets of paper.

I explained what a newspaper was, and she was intrigued. I know she liked it because after going home, she called me and asked if I would save the papers for her after we were done with them. She wanted to read the comics in the back.

Why Teaching Children About God Matters

This experience reminded me of why teaching children about God is so important. As adults, we have lived life and seen God’s goodness, but our children haven’t experienced many of those things firsthand. They may not even know the stories of our faith journey unless we tell them.

In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses reminded the children of Israel to love the LORD their God and keep all His requirements. He reminded them that their children were not the ones who had seen and experienced God’s mighty works and outstretched arm, including the signs He performed to bring them out of Egypt.

The next generation needed to hear about what God had done.

Remember God’s Word and Pass It On

Moses told the Israelites to fix God’s words in their hearts and minds and teach them to their children. They were to talk about them throughout the day—at home, when traveling, when lying down, and when getting up. They were even to write them on the doorframes of their houses and on their gates as constant reminders so they wouldn’t forget.

Teaching children about God wasn’t supposed to be limited to special occasions. It was to be part of everyday life.

When Ruby and I talked about the newspaper, she discovered something unfamiliar and realized she liked it. How much greater is the opportunity for our children to hear us talk about all the LORD has done for us and to discuss what His Word says about how He wants us to live!

What Will Our Children Remember?

What children are in your life? Why not sit with them, look into their eyes, and tell them about what God has done for you? Share a story of His faithfulness. Talk about His Word. These everyday conversations may be some of the most important gifts you could ever give them.

I’m now saving my old newspapers for Ruby. But even more importantly, I pray she will remember our conversations about the LORD.

Newspapers may become a thing of the past, but God’s truth must never be forgotten.

May we faithfully pass it on!

Love,

Mama

What stories of God’s faithfulness have you shared with the next generation? I’d love to hear about them in the comments! And if this message encouraged you, please share it with someone who is helping children learn about God.